Decorative furniture and method of fabricating same

ABSTRACT

A decorative article of furniture such as a table or the like, and which incorporates a wall structure comprising a frame which defines one or more vertical substantially planar front surfaces and a plurality of elongated relatively narrow slats secured to each front surface to substantially cover the same. The side edges of each slat are inwardly beveled to define a dovetail cross section, and the outer surface and edges of each slat are covered by a facing panel of sheet material, such as stainless steel, which conforms to the dovetail outline of the slats to thereby maintain the facing panel and associated slat in assembled relationship. The wall structure is constructed by initially joining the slats to the planar surface of the frame in juxtaposed, parallel, spaced relationship, and then assembling the facing panels by telescoping each over the associated slat. By spacing apart the adjacent slats a distance equal to about twice the thickness of the facing panels, the side edges of adjacent panels will be contiguous along their length and a substantially planar outer surface will be formed by the medial portions of the facing panels. The wall structure may also have independent uses, such as in the fabrication of decorative wall panels for paneling rooms in a home or office.

ilnited States Patent [191 Kienel DECORATIVE FURNITURE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME Joseph Edward Kienel, P. O. Box

135, Acworth, Ga. 30101 22 Filed: Oct.4, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 186,314

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Att0rneyFloyd A. Gibson [57] ABSTRACT A decorative article of furniture such as a table or the 1 .lu1y3,1973

like, and which incorporates a wall structure comprising a frame which defines one or more Vertical substantially planar front surfaces and a plurality of elongated relatively narrow slats secured to each front surface to substantially cover the same. The side edges of each slat are inwardly beveled to define a dovetail cross section, and the outer surface and edges of each slat are covered by a facing panel of sheet material, such as stainless steel, which conforms to the dovetail outline of the slats to thereby maintain the facing panel and associated slat in assembled relationship. The wall structure is constructed by initially joining the slats to the planar surface of the frame in juxtaposed, parallel, spaced relationship, and then assembling the facing panels by telescoping each over the associated slat. By spacing apart the adjacent slats a distance equal to about twice the thickness of the facing panels, the side edges of adjacent panels will be contiguous along their length and a substantially planar outer surface will be formed by the medial portions of the facing panels. The wall structure may also have independent uses, such as in the fabrication of decorative wall panels for paneling rooms in a home or office.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JUL 3 I975 SHEEI 1 U 2 DECORATIVE FURNITURE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME The present invention relates to a decorative wall structure suitable for use in fabricating furniture, building walls, and the like, and which includes a decorative and protective facing panel of sheet material such as stainless steel.

In the manufacture of furniture having a stainless steel facing, it has been necessary to assemble the stainless steel to the underlying frame by braising or mechanical securing devices. Braising of stainless steel is a very time consuming operation since extreme care must be exercised to insure that the stainless steel will not be discolored. If discoloration should occur, an additional waxing and polishing operation must be employed to remove the same, thus further contributing to the time consuming nature of the operation. While the use of mechanical securing devices alleviates the danger of discoloration, the presently employed securing devices are unsatisfactory since the securing operation is also time consuming, and unsightly screw heads or the like are left which protrude from the surface of the stainless steel.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a-wall structure of the described type, and a method of fabricating the same, which does not require braising or the use of mechanical securing devices to maintain the assembly of the facing panels to the supporting frame.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a decorative wall structure which includes a plurality of juxtaposed, vertically extending facing panels of sheet material, with the front surface of the panels being smooth and uninterrupted by the presence of any mechanical securing devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an ornamental table or other article of furniture wherein the supporting frame is covered by a decorative wall structure which includes a plurality of juxtaposed stainless steel panels.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved in the embodiments illustrated hereinby a wall structure which is constructed by initially joining a plurality of relatively narrow slats having a dovetail-cross sectional configuration to the vertical surface of a supporting frame. The slats are arranged in closely spaced apart juxtaposed, parallel relationship to substantially cover the vertical surface, and a facing panel having a conforming dovetail configura' tion is assembled to each slat by telescoping the facing panel vertically over the slat.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a decorative table embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the manner in which the frame and slats of the table shown in FIG. 1 are assembled;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an initial step in the assembly of the frame of the table shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a subsequent step in the assembly of the table shown in FIG. 1;

the same is joined to a supporting vertical wall surface;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7 and further illustrating the securing means for retaining the wall panel to the supporting wall surface.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, an ornamental or decorative table embodying the features of the present invention is indicated generally at 10. As best seen in FIGS. 2-6, the table It) comprises a supporting frame 12 which defines a horizontal base 14, a horizontal upper surface 16, and a plurality of planar substantially vertical surfaces. In the illustrated embodiment, the supporting frame comprises three relatively thick members, such as wooden boards, which are secured together by bolts 18 in an X-shaped crosssectional configuration. Thus, the supporting frame defines a total of twelve vertical surfaces which include the eight relatively broad surfaces 20 and'the four relatively narrow end surfaces 21.

Each of the broad vertical surfaces 20 mounts a total of three elongated, relatively narrow slats 22 which may be fabricated from a variety of materials such as plywood, fiberboard or the like. The slats extend vertically from the base 14 to the upper surface 16, and are positioned in juxtaposed, parallel, closely spaced relationship to substantially cover the vertical surface. As best seen in FIG. 6, each of the slats 22 defines a planar rear surface 24 contacting the vertical surface 20 of the supporting frame, an outer surface 26 directed oppositely from the rear surface 24, and a pair of generally parallel side edges 28, 29 which are inwardly beveled to define a dovetail cross-sectional configuration.

The four end surfaces 21 of the supporting frame are seen to mount one slat 22 which has a construction similar to that described above. In all cases, the slats 22 may be joined to the supporting frame by any suitable securing means, such as glue, screws, or nails.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a decorative facing panel 30 is assembled to each slat by telescoping the panel over the associated slat in a vertical direction. More particularly, the facing panel 30 comprises a relatively thin sheet material, such as stainless steel or plastic, and includes a medial portion 32 which is designed to overlie and substantially cover the outer surface 26 of the associated slat, and inwardly angled side edges 33, 34 which are adapted to substantially cover and conform to the side edges of the associated slat. By this arrangement, the facing panel 30 and the associated slat are maintained in assembled relation, without the need for unsightly mechanical securing devices.

Viewing FIG. 6, it will be observed that the side edges 28, 29 of adjacent slats are laterally spaced-a distance approximately equaling twice the thickness of the facing panels 30 such that the side edges of adjacent panels are substantially contiguous along their length. Thus, upon completion of the assembly of the facing panels to the slats, a substantially smooth uninterrupted and planar outer surface is formed by the medial portions of adjacent panels on each vertical front surface of the frame.

To complete the fabrication of the table 10, an X- shaped floor support 36 may be joined in any suitable manner to the base surface 14, and a similarly shaped cover 38 may be joined to the upper surface 16. As illustrated, the cover 38 is joined to the upper surface 16 by means of four vertical studs 40 which vertically extend from the supporting frame. The cover 38 includes cooperating apertures (not shown) such that each of the studs 40 may extend therethrough and mount a pad 42 positioned at a level somewhat above the cover. As will be apparent, the presence of the floor support 36 and the cover 38 serve to prevent vertical movement of the facing panels 30 along the slats 22. Also, both the floor support and cover may be constructed from the same material as the facing panels, e.g., stainless steel, to provide a pleasing appearance. To complete the table, a circular table top or platform 44, which may be constructed from a transparent material such as glass or plastic, is positioned to rest upon the pads 42 such that it is supported by and covers the frame 12.

A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7-8. In this embodiment, the wall structure is in the form of a wall panel 50 which is adapted to be secured to a vertical interior wall surface 52 to provide a pleasing appearance. More specifically, the panel 50 comprises a supporting frame 54 of plywood sheeting or the like, and a plurality of vertically disposed slats 56 overlying and completely covering the front surface of the member 54. The slats 56 are similar in construction to the slats 22 described in the previous embodiment, and will be seen to have a dovetail cross sectional configuration. A decorative facing panel 58 of sheet metal or the like is maintained in assembled relationship with each slat by a conforming dovetail cross sectional configuration. As in the previous embodiment, the facing panels 58 are joined to the slats 56 by vertically telescoping the panels over the slats after the latter have been secured to the supporting frame 54 by gluing, nailing or some other suitable means.

The wall panel 50 may additionally include suitable fastening means for securing the same to the wall surface 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastening means takes the form of mating Hedlock fasteners 60 and 61 which are designed to mechanically lock when pushed together and which are capable of subsequently being separated by being pulled apart. Such fasteners are available in many configurations with a predetermined holding strength, and are further described in US. Pat. No. 3,471,903 issued Oct. 14, 1969. Obviously, a wide variety of other fastening means, such as the use of glue, could be employed to secure the wall panels 50 to the wall surface 52.

In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. A decorative table or the like comprising a frame defining a horizontal base, a horizontal upper surface, and a plurality of substantially vertical surfaces,

at least one elongated, relatively narrow slat mounted to and substantially covering each of said vertical surfaces, each of said slats extending vertically from said base to said upper surface and defining an outer surface and generally parallel side edges, said side edges being inwardly beveled to provide a dovetail cross sectional configuration,

a facing panel comprising a relatively thin sheet material assembled to each slat and comprising a medial portion substantially covering the slat outer surface and side edges substantially covering the slat side edges, each facing panel having a dovetail cross sectional configuration closely conforming to that of the associated slat whereby the facing panel is retained in assembled relationship with the slat, and

a horizontally disposed platform resting upon and covering said horizontal upper surface.

2. The decorative table as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said vertical surfaces mounts a plurality of parallel slats with such slats being laterally spaced a distance approximately equaling twice the thickness of said facing panels such that the side edges of adjacent facing panels are substantially contiguous along their length.

3. The decorative table as defined in claim 2 wherein said frame comprises a plurality of relatively thick wooden members which are secured together in an X- shaped cross-sectional configuration to define twelve vertical surfaces.

4. The decorative table as defined in claim 3 wherein a metallic cover is interposed between said horizontal upper surface and said platform, and said platform comprises a transparent material.

k k i i l 

1. A decorative table or the like comprising a frame defining a horizontal base, a horizontal upper surface, and a plurality of substantially vertical surfaces, at least one elongated, relatively narrow slat mounted to and substantially covering each of said vertical surfaces, each of said slats extending vertically from said base to said upper Surface and defining an outer surface and generally parallel side edges, said side edges being inwardly beveled to provide a dovetail cross sectional configuration, a facing panel comprising a relatively thin sheet material assembled to each slat and comprising a medial portion substantially covering the slat outer surface and side edges substantially covering the slat side edges, each facing panel having a dovetail cross sectional configuration closely conforming to that of the associated slat whereby the facing panel is retained in assembled relationship with the slat, and a horizontally disposed platform resting upon and covering said horizontal upper surface.
 2. The decorative table as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said vertical surfaces mounts a plurality of parallel slats with such slats being laterally spaced a distance approximately equaling twice the thickness of said facing panels such that the side edges of adjacent facing panels are substantially contiguous along their length.
 3. The decorative table as defined in claim 2 wherein said frame comprises a plurality of relatively thick wooden members which are secured together in an X-shaped cross-sectional configuration to define twelve vertical surfaces.
 4. The decorative table as defined in claim 3 wherein a metallic cover is interposed between said horizontal upper surface and said platform, and said platform comprises a transparent material. 